SALISBURY, England (AP) – David Halls is not a doctor, nurse or ambulance driver, but he wants to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. So he did what he did best: he sat down on the bench next to the historic organ of Salisbury Cathedral and started playing.
Halls is one of many people who have turned the 800-year-old cathedral in the south-west of England into a mass vaccination center, while the UK wants to vaccinate 50 million people. His contribution to the effort offers a bit of Bach, Handel and even a bit of Rodgers & Hammerstein to the public as they shuffle through the ship to get their shots.
“In times of crisis, people come together and want to listen to music; in moments of joy, people want to listen to music, ”Halls, the cathedral’s music director, told The Associated Press. “And so I do not think it’s the surprise of the effect of soothing music on people who probably feel very stressed for various reasons.”
Salisbury Cathedral, home to one of the best-preserved specimens of the Magna Carta and England’s highest church spire, has been called in as a vaccination center as the government extends its shooting program to football stadiums, convention centers and hundreds of local doctors’ offices to speed up delivery. .
Hundreds of elderly residents rolled up their sleeves and got their shots fired into the large ship, which is large enough to hold people together while also keeping them safely apart.
This is in stark contrast to 1627, when church leaders closed the gate of the cathedral to keep residents out of the city while the plague was swept by Salisbury. Canon Nicholas Papadopulos, dean of the cathedral, says he reflected on this episode with ‘visceral discomfort’ last year when he celebrated the building’s 800th anniversary.
Now it’s time for a new chapter.
“If these stones could talk, they would talk about moments of incredible joy and moments of incredible sadness,” Halls said. “It feels very appropriate that the cathedral is playing its part in trying to turn things around and being a part of the vaccinations … Being a part of it is such a privilege, such an honor.”
The UK plans to offer a first dose of vaccine to more than 15 million people by mid-February, as it targets the country’s oldest and most vulnerable residents in the first phase of the program. Gradually, younger groups will follow suit, and the government plans to reach by September 18th.
The need is urgent. The UK healthcare system is staggering as doctors and nurses are fighting a more contagious variant of COVID-19.
While new infections appear to have peaked, the number of people admitted to hospital is still increasing. More than 39,000 patients are being treated in UK hospitals, 80% more than during the first peak of the April pandemic. Britain reported 93,463 coronavirus-related deaths, more than any other country in Europe and the fifth highest toll worldwide.
The effort at the cathedral is a common task, in which many are involved. Organists took turns playing for two hours with the massive “Father Willis” – to make sure to disinfect in between.
John Challenger, 32, Salisbury’s assistant director of music, said many people taking the photos were elderly people who had been isolated and could not hear live music for months.
In addition to playing soothing music, Challenger used his time at the organ to entertain and evoke memories by playing songs like Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.”
“And in those frivolous moments, I played ‘I love being at sea’ because we all know, we want to go on holiday and still not be able to go where we want to,” he said.
Among those who listened Wednesday was Sylvia Parkin, 82, who came with her husband, David, 86. They had to stay very much at home for the past ten months, which was no fun.
“It’s an outing today, isn ‘t it?” She said cheerfully. ‘It’s a great place to do injections. ″
And although it can get as far as the organ cage, people have managed to get their requests in.
Halls played Handel’s “Largo” and Bach’s “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring” for an 80-year-old neighbor who sent an email asking that his favorites be played at exactly 10:45 on Saturday, just as the needle was going. in.
When Halls was done, he looked at the screen showing the organist what was happening on the bottom floor and saw his neighbor waving insanely – windshield wiper style – and thanked him.
“He sent me an email later saying it was the best part of his whole life except his wedding day,” Halls said. “I think it’s really good to get there.”
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Kearney made a contribution from Salisbury, England.
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